I’m a junior in high school and just failed a class. I am SO distraught because I have always worked so hard at school to do well and it is important to me. The reason I have failed (the first semester) is basically because of extreme depression and anxiety that’s not letting me act or feel normally. I did fine in my other classes (got a B in one but A’s in all the others, like usual) but just couldn’t handle this one- I didn’t turn in a lot of the work and just thinking about the class is enough to make feel desperate, cry, et cetera. You might not understand depression but that isn’t really the point of this subject…
Since I’m a junior and failed this class (and the second semester has now begun- we’re a couple weeks into the second semester) I don’t know what to do. Can I retake this class (does it cost money?) and when can I retake it? Could I do it over summer? If I wait until my senior year, it won’t even matter for college applications because I’ll already have to be sending them out (right?). This is making me more depressed, ashamed, and hopeless than ever and I don’t know what to do. I’ve always been a good student with good grades and getting my homework turned in on time and am embarrassed- not to mention so many other things- about this. Do you have any advice? Thank you, for reading this and offering any thoughts.
p.s. Sorry, I didn’t know which category this was most appropriate for.
(I’m the original poster)- I forgot to add that I am TERRIFIED to see the teacher again. I’m taking online classes through my school now and have been for several weeks (because of depression I switched to online classes) and I dread seeing the teacher, having her email me, or talking to her in anyway because I failed- and didn’t even send her an email telling her why. I am so scared, embarrassed, ashamed, et cetera.
You need to talk to your GC about your options for retake. Perhaps a CC equivalent will work.
Are you being treated for your depression? The most important thing for you right now is to get healthy.
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Talk to your parents about being treated for depression/anxiety. Once it gets to the point where it is affecting your life, you have to take steps. You could also talk to your school nurse or GC.
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With your parents, talk to your GC about what to do. Is this a semester course? if so, can you take it again? If it is a year long course, maybe dropping it/changing to a lower level might be the way to go. Because of your mental health issues, is there a way to retake and drop the former grade?
First things first. Calm down. You are NOT the only person that has ever gone through this by a very long shot!
I do understand depression and first and foremost hope your mental health is the number one priority. College is a new and stressful environment so getting to a good place to attend is very important.
To your questions:
What is the class? Is it absolutely required for graduation?
You need to talk to your teacher and guidance counselor immediately and find out your options.Make an appointment. Bring your parents if possible. It may be possible to erase the grade (so you need to find out so as to not continue down this path a second semester). There may be alternate courses with which you can replace the requirement.
You worry that the class won’t mean much if taken in senior year–but HS is 12 years. You need to make it through all of them. The failing grade brings down your GPA for college apps so it’s more important to get it removed if possible.
I’m not sure why you are terrified of seeing the teacher. Is there animosity there? Or are you just embarrassed because of the grade? Do you have a mind block in this particular subject?
Talking to the teacher will greatly increase your chances of resolving this issue in your favor. The teacher may have alternative ways to help your grade that may be acceptable–but you’ll never know if you don’t talk to her. Most teachers are caring individuals but I’ve yet to meet one who is a mind reader.
Send her an e-mail or better yet talk in person (if you can get up the nerve) and explain your circumstance.
Get over the embarrassment of dealing with the teacher – there won’t be a resolution without teacher involvement in some form. Also, think of all the possible people who could deal with the teacher on your behalf and be your advocate, at least initially so you can get through this impass: your parents or another relative, the department head that supervises the teacher, the principal or vice principal, the guidance counselor, another teacher, or even another student you trust. Don’t continue fretting over this alone. It is okay to discuss your situation with others and get their help and advice. If it is too hard to talk about it in person, then start emailing people. You can include more than one person on the email.
You can also research some issues on your own by checking your school handbook of rules and policies, assuming you have one. Typically these can describe some steps to take if you fail a course. You might be able to just retake it over the summer and have the new grade replace the old one (and take it online instead of with same teacher). You will have options. You also need to consider why you froze on this subject in particular – for example, if you don’t understand it and were afraid to submit less than perfect work, you might need to get tutoring before retaking the subject. People bounce back from all kinds of setbacks in life and you wiil, too. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Many other students encounter similar blocks, especially around junior year. You will eventually bounce back and be stronger for having come through these challenges.
Please please please talk to your parents about this. Do they know? They must be so concerned and will want to help you. I have teens, and I would want to know, so please aks for help. Even if you have a rough relationship with your paretns, trust me, they love you and want you to be well and happy. Talk to them right now, okay? Your parents will not be mad at you when you explain how sad you are.
You also need to talk to your guidance counselor asap. You have many options, and things will work out. You have done a good thing by coming on this site, so keep doing good things to help yourself. You can do an online course, or summer school, or community college. Maybe you have to repeat next year, but it will be okay as long as you keep moving forward. You will be okay in the long run.